Friday, November 29, 2013

Cc is for Crazy for Caran D'ache Crayons

I first encountered them by accident. A practically brand new box of 15 Caran D'ache were part of a garage sale hoard of art supplies.From the first time I used them I was thrilled by their intense colors, and the variety of ways I could use them. Wet, dry, combination of both, rough surface or smooth - always a great result.

They have become a staple of my senior art classes because they are both easy to handle and bright enough to see, even with vision problems. And they ability to see work get better by adding water is always a huge hit.

So, if I wasn't crazy for these cool crayons before, my newest application for them would have put me over the edge. They are an amazing tool for use in monotype printing. I can use them to draw on even the smoothest plates and surfaces, and their water soluble nature allows them to transfer beautifully when wet paper is laid on top. I can't stop experimenting.

This is one of the pieces I have created. It is based on a favorite painting, and the colors are a close match to the original. The first print was a little light, but because the paper was wet, lightly going over the shapes restored all to full color.

About the Blog

I believe in the power of creativity ... for everyone.

So, I paint, write, draw and print and ... I teach. My art students range in age from 5 to 101 (!).

For me, the process of dreaming up fabulous art projects for my students inspires my most creative ideas. This results in new work, new learning and new techniques for me which in turn, enrich my classes.

This blog is a way for me to share my work, my experiences in the classroom and studio, and the challenges and joy all of this creates.